Sporting its new company name and fresh brand identity, a new state-of-the-art headquarters in Dublin’s Citywest has been unveiled by Gowan Auto, following the consolidation of 9 major motor brands and the completion of a phased relocation of 129 staff. To support its strategic vision and ambitions, Gowan Auto, the exclusive importer, and distributor of Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Honda, Jeep, Opel, and Peugeot in the Republic of Ireland, has united its suite of car brands, teams and expertise and presented its expansive office space, to include a 110,000sq ft parts warehouse, a contemporary training academy, and an extensive marketing showroom.
Gowan Auto, a member of the family-owned holding company, the Gowan Group, has made a significant commercial investment in the new Citywest premises, to future-proof the business and to meet its dealer partners’ sales, parts, technical and after sales needs, more readily. Equipped with 26 electric vehicle chargers, 123 car parking spaces, 7 meeting rooms, and 2 training classrooms, the extensive new facilities have also seen the parts warehousing capacity significantly increase for the brands. The 110,000 sq ft warehouse holds increased volumes of stock to ensure rapid parts availability for dealers, with up to 3 times daily deliveries direct to dealers.
The Gowan Academy is a contemporary training facility, offering Gowan Auto dealers access to dedicated technical, sales, finance, marketing, and digital expertise, to enable in-depth training across all facets of the business. The new marketing showroom, the Gowan Gallery, is a multi-purpose event space that has been designed for each brand to hold conferences, events and launches, and to welcome dealers and fleet guests. The introduction of shared services across the brands has ensured greater efficiencies, with the dealer networks now accessing centralised IT support, enhanced customer care, warranty, technical, parts, and finance teams.
Michael Dwan, Gowan Group Managing Director, said: “Backed by 53 years of steadfast motor industry expertise, the Gowan Auto rebrand and relocation are cornerstones to our clear vision for achieving success, together with our collective car brands, nationwide dealer networks, fleet, lease and car rental partners, and our suppliers. This transformation is part of our commitment to support our expanded brand portfolio, and to continuously enhance our services to our dealer networks, our end-customers, and the wider auto industry in Ireland.”
A major expansion to the distribution business, the consolidation and relocation have led to the sale of both the landmark Honda building on the N7, and Gowan House in Dublin 12. Holding more than 12.2% combined passenger car and light commercial market in Ireland in 2022, the company has set its sights on considerable, sustainable growth in the coming years.
Pictured with Gowan Auto staff at the front of the new HQ, are family members, L-R: Cristiana Hurley, Fiona Thomas, Maria Bourke, Michael Maughan and Gemma Smith Maughan.
